Touch latch



O 24, v1967 T. A. STUB'BLEFIELD ETAL 3,343,857

TOUCH LATCH Filed Aug. 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P5 IFOWHH INVENTORS v vl l/ A THOMAS A.STUBBLEFIELD.

' f; 1 VIOLA B. YAW \o/ @o J U lad! BY EDWARD D.O'BRIAN.

AT TORN E Y.

Oct 24, 1 T. A. STUBBLEFIELD ETAL 3,343,867

TOUCH LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 23, 1965 INVENTORS THOMAS A. STUBBLEFIELD.

'YAW EDWARD o. OBRIAN.

BY VIOLA B.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent M 3,348,867 TOUCH LATCH Thomas A. Stubblefield and Viola B. Yaw, both of PD. Box 748, Lake Tahoe, Kings Beach, Calif. 95716 Filed Aug. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 481,680 9 Claims. (Cl. 292-122) This invention is directed to a touch latch particularly adapted for the maintaining closed and permitting opening of one member with respect to another and wherein motion in the same direction causes latching and unlatchmg.

In many places in modern industry and in the modern home there is a cover that must be latched into place, yet the latch provided for this purpose must permit ease of opening of the cover and access to the space therebeneath. This occasion arises in kitchen cabinets and in other household situations, and in overhead space lighting wherein it is necessary on occasion to lower a diffuser for access to the lamps and reflectors beyond it. Ease of latching and unlatching is necessary in these and many other circumstances. It is often desirable and in some cases necessary to have a firm, rigid latch which positively maintains the movable member in position. In many of these situations it is very desirable that motion of the movable member into latched position and motion of the movable member into unlatched position are in the same direction. In a desirable structure positive latching can be obtained and friction latching of important parts eliminated. Thus, vibration and earthquakes will not cause the latch to spring open except in the most severe conditions.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a touch latch which is capable of positively latching a movable member with respect to a fixed member, and yet provide for easy and convenient opening of the movable member.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a touch latch which causes latching of the movable member with respect to another member by motion of the movable member in a first direction, and causes unlatching of the movable member by a second motion of the movable member in the first direction.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a touch latch which is economic, easy of operation, of positive latching characteristics, easy and inexpensive to manufacture and of long life.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following portion of the specification, the claims and the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the touch latch of this invention showing the catch and latch related to each other with a movable member in the open position;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the touch latch of this invention, with parts broken away, showing the catch moving into latching position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, similar to FIG. 2, showing the catch moving toward the latching position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the catch in a further step in its latching operation;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the catch in latched position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the catch moved toward a position in which it will be unlatched;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the catch in the unlatched position;

FIG. 8 is a section taken generally along the line 8-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a section taken generally along the line 9-9 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 10 is an exploded isometric view of portions of the touch latch of this invention.

3,348,867 Patented Oct. 24, 1967 As an aid to understanding this invention it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a touch latch. The touch latch comprises a catch adapted to be mounted on the movable portion of a closure and a latch adapted to be mounted upon the fixed portion of the closure. The catch has an abutment, a tongue and two retainer ears. The latch has a plunger adapted to be engaged by the abutment, and a lock arm adapted to relate to the tongue and ears. The plunger is connected to cause swinging of the lock arm, while the retainer ears and tongue restrain the motion of the lock arm so that it sequentially moves to a locked position Where it is retained between the retained ears and to an unlocked position wherein the catch is disengageable from the latch.

This invention will be understood in greater detail by reference to the following portion of this specification wherein the drawings are described. Referring principally to FIGS. 1 and 2, the touch latch of this invention is generally indicated at 10. The touch latch 10 comprises catch 12 and latch 14. As is seen in FIG. 1, latch 14 is particularly adapted to be mounted upon a fixed member 16 while the catch 12 is particularly adapted to be mounted upon a movable member 18. Functionally, this order may be reversed, but since catch 12 is the smaller element, it is usually more convenient tomount it upon the movable member. Furthermore, it is preferable that the fixed member be a receptacle of one sort or another for which the movable member 18 is the cover. Securement between the fixed and movable members is desirable. A plurality of touch latches 10 may be used, or a hinge may be used in opposition to one or more of the touch latches 10. Thus, the touch latch 10 is suitable for use in the control of kitchen cupboard doors, management and locking of diffusers for overhead lighting structures, and in many other places where it is desirable that a rigid, positive lock be provided between a movable and a fixed member. The rigidity of the touch latch 10 is accomplished by moving the catch 12 into the latch 14 to a predetermined position wherein full locking is accomplished. Unlatching is accomplished by further motion in the same direction until unlocking is accomplished, as is evidenced from the structure described in this specification and shown in the drawings.

Referring now primarily to FIGS. 1, 2, 9 and 10, the catch 12 comprises a base plate 20 which contains holes 22 which is adapted to be secured to member 18. Catch 12 is bent in L shape to provide leg 24 which extends toward latch 14. Leg 24 extends forward and carries abutments 26 and 28. Extending forward from the abutment is nose 30 which extends upward from leg 24 and backward toward base plate 20. Nose 30 has stop side 32 on its side, locking stop 34 projecting backwardly and facing plate 20 and ears 36 and 38 projecting further backwardly toward plate 20 and positioned on each side of locking stop 34. Furthermore, tongue 40 extends from the plate 20 and faces locking stop 34 between the cars 36 and 38 thereon.

As is seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 8 and 9, catch 12 comprises an exterior rectangular case 42 having a top 44, sides 46 and 48, back 50 and front flanges 52 and 54. This forms a rectangular box having an open bottom and an opening in the front between the termination of the flanges 52 and 54. Openings 56 are formed through the top 44 for the acceptance of screws to secure the latch 14 in place upon the fixed member 16. An internal guide is formed within case 42. This guide comprises guiding side walls 58 and 60 and bottom 62. The bottom 62 is in line with the lower edges of sides 46 and 48 so as to form a flat bottom for the latch 14. Bottom 62 is parallel to top 44 so that a rectangular guideway is formed.

Positioned within the guideway formed between side walls 58 and 60, bottom 62 and top 44 is plunger 64, see

3 FIGS. 4 and 10. Plunger 64 has sides 66 and 68 which are parallel to and are guided by side walls 58 and 60, respectively. Plunger 64 also has front stop flanges 70 and 72 which are positioned to be engaged by abutments 26 and 28, respectively. As is seen in FIG. 4, there is sufficient space between stop flanges 70 and 72 to permit the entry of nose 30 therebetween.

Plunger 64 has a stop 74 at the rear of the plunger and bent across the rear from side 66. Similarly, plunger 64 has a partial bottom 76 therein, see FIG. 9. Bottom 76 is at the front end of the plunger 64 and spring pad 78 is bent up therefrom. Compression coil spring 80 is in engagement with spring pad 78. Spring 80 urges plunger 64 forward so that in the rest position it is even with the front of the remainder of latch 14, as is shown in FIG. 2.

Pivot pin 82 is preferably a rivet, and as is seen in FIG. 9, its head is above top 44. It passes through pivot pin openings in top 44 and in bottom 62. It may be either riveted to the bottom 62, as shown, or may be screwed therein. Lock arm 84 is generally formed in a J-shape, see FIGS. 9 and 10, and has openings for pivot pin 82 in long arm 86 and short arm 88. Pivot pin 82 passes throughthese pivot pin openings so that lock arm 84 is pivotally mounted in case 42 with its long arm directly under top 44. Short arm 88 extends forward past the pivot and carries spring retainer 90. Spring 80 engages over spring retainer 90 sothat spring 80 causes two actions. As previously described, spring 80 pushes plunger 64 forward, and the angular character of spring retainer 90 causes spring 80 to urge lockarm 84 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 2 through 4. Long arm 86 has stop shoulder 92 which is engageable by stop 74. Thus, as the plunger 64 moves toward its forwardmost position, this engagement occurs and swings lock arm 84 in the counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 2 through 4. Long arm 86 extends forward and has blade 94 de pending therefrom. Blade 94 is positioned adjacent the front open end of case 42.. As is seen in FIG. 9, abutments 26 and 28 extend less than halfway upward and blade 94 is of such length as to passthereover. Blade 94 has an interior stop edge 96 and an exterior stop edge 98.

The construction having been described, the operation of the touch latch 10 is described below. As has been previously described, the catch 12 and latch 14 are mounted upon members which are relatively movable to each other. These members are arranged so that the catch 12 approaches the latch 14 with the bottom of leg 24 above, and slightly clearing, bottom 62, as is shown in FIG. 9. The unlatched position is shown in FIG. 2 where the catch 12 is moved toward latch 14. Lock arm 84 is maintained in the position shown by engagement of stop 74 with stop shoulder 92. Spring80 urges plunger 64 so'that itis substantially flush'with the open end of the case, and long arm 86 engages the side 68 to form a stop for the lock arm and the plunger in this position.

As is seen in FIG. 3, as catch 12 moves forward, its abutments 26 and 28 engage with stop flanges 70 and 72 to thrust a plunger 64 rearwardly. Such motion moves stop 74 away from stop shoulder 92 so that lock arm 84 is freed from this restraint and is stressed by spring 80 to move in a clockwise position about its pivot pin 82. Nose 30 moves into position next to blade 94 before this restraint is removed, so that blade 94 moves against stop side 32 of nose 30. When the catch 12 is moved far enough into position, the blade 94 passes ear 36. This is the position shown in FIG. 3.

After it passes ear 36, as is shown in FIG. 4, blade 94 continues to move by rotation of lock arm 84 in the clockwise direction until the blade 94 engages upon tongue 40 on catch 12. Lock arm 84 is restrained in this position until the next operation.

The next step is seen in FIG. wherein the catch 12 is released from inward force. This permits spring 80, acting through plunger 64 and the engagement of stop flanges 70 and 72 against abutments 26 and 28 to urge the catch 12 leases blade 94 on lock arm 84 and interior stop edge 96 of blade 94 is engaged against locking stop 34 on nose 30 and is retained by ear 38. In this position the catch 12 is locked in the latch and will remain in this condition until further action is taken.

Further action is illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein the catch 12 is again pressed in. Such pressing in causes car 38 on nose 30 to be moved away from blade 94 on lock arm 84 so that spring permits the lock arm 84 to swing in the clockwise direction seen in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the lock arm has just been released and is in clockwise motion.

In FIG. 7, this clockwise motion is arrested by engagement of the lock arm 84 with side wall 58. The lock arm 84 is maintained in this position by the force of spring 80 and blade 94 is in such a position that does not restrain or engage with any portion of the catch 12. Thus, the catch 12 is free to move out of latch 14. As it moves out, and such motion is caused by the compression of spring 80,- stop 74 engages with stop shoulder 92. This engagement does not take place .until nose 30 is at least next to blade 94 so that the blade cannot engage between the ears 36 and 38. Thus, as the catch 12 moves out and plunger 64 moves out, blade 94 engages upon the side of the nose 30 and is released thereby upon further motion until the structures occupies the position shown in FIG. 2. At that point it is ready for another engagement and subsequent disengagement operation.

This invention having been described in its preferred embodiment, it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications and changes within the scope of the invention and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.

We claim: 1. A touch latch, said touch latch comprising a catch and a latch;

said catch being arranged to be mounted on a first member which is relatively movable to a second member, said catch having a nose and an abutment thereon;

said latch being arranged to be mounted on the second relatively movable member, said latch having a mov able plunger therein, a lock arm pivoted in said latch, a spring in said latch, the improvement comprising:

said spring having one end in engagement with said lock arm to urge said lock arm to rotate in a first direction and being in engagement on its other end with said plunger to urge said plunger in a first direction, mechanical interengagement means between said plunger and said lock arm so that when said spring urges said plunger in said first direction of said plunger, said mechanical interengagement means between said plunger and said lock arm rotate said lock arm in a direction opposite its first direction, said catch being engageable with said plunger to move said plunger in a direction opposite its first direction to disengage said mechanical interengagement between said plunger and said lock arm and cause said spring to urge said lock arm in said first direction so that said lock arm engages said nose and locks said lock arm to said catch.

2. A touch latch, said touch latch comprising a catch and a latch;

said catch being adapted to be mounted on one of two relatively movable members and having a nose positioned thereon and'adapted to extend away from the one of the two relatively movable members, an abut ment adjacent said nose, an car on said nose, said car being directed in a direction away from said abutment, a tongue on said catch, said tongue being directed generally toward said ear on said nose;

said latch being adapted to be mounted upon the other 1 I of the two relatively movable members, said latch having a movable plunger therein, a lock arm pivoted on said latch, a spring in said latch, said spring being connected between said plunger and said lock arm, said spring urging said plunger in a first direction in said latch and torquing said lock arm in a first direction in said latch, stop engagement means between said plunger and said lock arm, said stop engagement means torquing said lock arm in a second direction opposite said first direction;

said tongue being positioned with respect to said ear in such a manner that as said catch is moved into said latch in said second direction, said lock arm first engages said tongue, and upon release of said catch so that it moves in said first direction said lock arm engages said ear to lock said catch in said latch, and when said catch is again moved in said second direction, said lock arm is released from said ear on said catch.

3. A touch latch, said touch latch comprising a catch and a latch;

said catch being adapted to be mounted on one of tWo relatively movable members and having a nose positioned thereon and adapted to extend away from the one of the two relatively movable members, an abutment adjacent said nose, an ear on said nose, said ear being directed in a direction away from said abutment, a tongue on said catch, said tongue being directed generally toward said ear on said nose;

said latch being adapted to be mounted upon the other of the two relatively movable members, said latch having a movable plunger therein, a lock arm pivoted in said latch, a spring in said latch, said spring being in engagement with said plunger and said lock arm, said spring urging said plunger in a first direction in said latch and torquing said lock arm in a first direction in said latch, stop engagement means between said plunger and said lock arm, said stop engagement means torquing said lock arm in a second direction opposite the said first direction;

said catch and said latch being arranged so that when said catch enters said latch in a second direction opposite said first direction of said plunger, said lock arm engages said ear and when said catch is again moved in said second direction said lock arm is released from said ear on said catch.

4. The touch latch of claim 2 wherein said lock arm carries a blade and said blade successively engages with said tongue in said ear.

5. The touch latch of claim 4 wherein said nose carries first and second ears and said blade on said lock arm engages said first ear and then said tongue when said catch is moved in said second direction and engages said second ear when said catch is moved in said first direction.

6. The touch latch of claim 2 wherein said plunger is engaged by said abutments on said catch, and such engagement by said abutments on said plunger when said catch moves in said second direction causes said stop means to disengage with said lock arm so that said lock arm is permitted to move in said first direction.

7. The touch latch of claim 6 wherein movement of said lock arm in said first direction is initially limited by said nose.

8. The touch latch of claim 7 wherein movement of said lock arm in said first direction is subsequently limited by said tongue and by said ear.

9. A touch latch, said touch latch comprising a catch and a latch;

said catch comprising a plate adapted to be secured to one of two movable members, a nose extending away from said plate, an abutment adjacent said nose and facing away from said plate, first and second ears on said nose, said ears facing said plate, a tongue on said plate and directed toward said nose between said first and second ears;

said latch comprising a case, a plunger movably mounted in said case, a stop flange on said plunger, spring abutment means in said plunger, a lock arm pivotably mounted in said case adjacent said plunger, spring abutment means on said lock arm, a spring between said abutment on said plunger and said abutment on said lock arm, said spring urging said plunger in a first direction and torquing said lock arm in a first direction, a stop on said plunger and a stop shoulder on said lock arm, said stop being engageable with said stop shoulder when said plunger is moved by said spring in said first direction, said stop and said stop shoulder torquing said lock arm in a second direction opposite said first direction, a blade on said lock arm;

said catch and said latch being arranged so that when said catch is moved toward said latch in a second direction opposite said first direction of said plunger, said abutment on said catch engages said stop flange on said plunger and causes said plunger to move in a second direction opposite its first direction, said movement of said plunger releasing said stop on said plunger from said stop shoulder on said lock 'arm and permitting said lock arm to move in said first direction, said blade on said lock arm then engaging said nose, and upon further movement of said catch in said second direction causes said blade to engage upon said tongue and when said catch moves in said first direction said blade engages between said first and second ears so that said catch is locked with respect to said latch, and when said catch is further moved in said second direction said blade is released from said second ear so as to permit said catch to be moved away from said latch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1924 Robertson. 8/1929 Vance. 

1. A TOUCH LATCH, SAID TOUCH LATCH COMPRISING A CATCH AND A LATCH; SAID CATCH BEING ARRANGED TO BE MOUNTED ON A FIRST MEMBER WHICH IS RELATIVELY MOVABLE TO A SECOND MEMBER, SAID CATCH HAVING A NOSE AND AN ABUTMENT THEREON; SAID LATCH BEING ARRANGED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE SECOND RELATIVELY MOVABLE MEMBER, SAID LATCH HAVING A MOVABLE PLUNGER THEREIN, A LOCK ARM PIVOTED IN SAID LATCH, A SPRING IN SAID LATCH, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: SAID SPRING HAVING ONE END IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LOCK ARM TO URGE SAID LOCK ARM TO ROTATE IN A FIRST DIRECTION AND BEING IN ENGAGEMENT ON ITS OTHER END WITH SAID PLUNGER TO URGE SAID PLUNGER IN A FIRST DIRECTION, MECHANICAL INTERENGAGEMENT MEAN BETWEEN SAID PLUNGER AND SAID LOCK ARM SO THAT WHEN SAID SPRING URGES SAID PLUNGER IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION OF SAID PLUNGER, SAID MECHANICAL INTERENGAGEMENT MEANS BETWEEN SAID PLUNGER AND SAID LOCK ARM ROTATE SAID LOCK ARM IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE ITS FIRST DIRECTION, SAID CATCH BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID PLUNGER TO MOVE 